YOU can finally sign up to help the Ministry of Magic “to save the wizarding world from calamity”. Niantic, the company behind Pokémon Go, revealed Harry Potter: Wizards Unite just over a year ago but it wasn’t until today that they confirmed much beyond the title and that the game was coming. A quick ‘immobilis’ and flick of a wand renders the skittish Snitch motionless The game, set in the world of JK Rowling’s fictional wizard, will be released at some point in 2019, with a teaser video and website inviting expectant Potter fans to sign up to join the “Statute of Secrecy Task Force”. “Traces of magic are appearing across the Muggle world without warning and in a rather chaotic manner,” the announcement reads. The game will be based on the technology that Niantic has been using and developing with its other games, Ingress, Ingress Prime and Pokémon Go. So you can expect deep integration with the real-world map, and missions involving seeking out magical goings-on in real-world locations. The original announcement promised that “players will learn spells, explore their real world neighbourhoods and cities to discover & fight legendary beasts and team up with others to take down powerful enemies.” The trailer doesn’t offer much by way of information, but does show a player casting an Immobilis spell on a Golden Snitch darting around an alleyway before catching it and putting it in her bag. The player then magics a poster onto the wall before teleporting away. game the… [Read full story]